#one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[bloededhoine]

world building cause twn doesn't part 9: mages

you probably know a lot about mages on account of them being fucking awesome and super sexy, so let's dive into what exactly makes them that way.

colour code cause i fucking love colour codes - already happened/introduced, probably s2, important background info, stuff that might be in the prequel, extras

series masterpost

what are mages?

put simply, mages are anyone skilled and educated in the use of magic. but, most mages are also incredibly adept in politics, science, and religion

the vast majority of mages serve on royal courts, but others are teachers, researchers, or just kinda hobos

anyone can use basic magic (ie witcher signs), but it takes both natural talent and extensive training to be an actual mage

also important to note that while druids and priests can and do use magic, they aren't usually considered mages since they're not as involved in politics and science

education

mages go to school! a lot! powerful mages tend to track down young potential students and bring them to a school to receive formal training

well, "bring them" is a bit reductive, it's more like kidnapping.

there are quite a few important schools, so let's go!

aretuza is definitely the one you are the most familiar with, mostly because it's just the best. aretuza is an all girls academy located in temeria, a northern kingdom known for its powerful mages

aretuza is led by a rectoress, an incredibly powerful sorceress responsible for training the young adepts. i think there's only been 4 ever, first klara larissa de winter (also the founder), then leticia charbonneau, then tissaia de vries (the milf right there, and rectoress as of twn), and finally margarita laux antille

ban ard is the boys version of aretuza, located in kaedwen. the magicians from ban ard are notably... unskilled? they're just kind of clowns. the rector of ban ard was gerhart of aelle, also known as hen gedymdeith, because there's nothing like a nonsensical pseudonym to up your credibility. gerhart was literally the oldest mage alive until his heart died. after him, dorregary of vole took over as rector

mages in the north are pretty much exclusively trained at either aretuza or ban ard, but nilfgaard has a magical academy too!

the imperial magic academy is a co-ed school in loc grim, one of nilfgaard's two capitals. the emperors of nilfgaard tend to hire mages directly from this school

types of mages

most mages tend to specialize in a certain area of magic, such as illusions, alchemy, divination, polymorphy, weaponry, or spycraft

this is extra useful when assembling a team. not that anyone in particular is assembling a team, it's just good to know.

the brotherhood of sorcerers

the brotherhood is the main organization of mages in the witcher. they basically set the rules of magic for all the mages in the north, which are that demonology, necromancy, and artifact compression are strictly not allowed. the punishment was exclusion from the brotherhood and being locked in dimeritium (mage kryptonite) for centuries, but practically no one followed the rules or was punished

the brotherhood exists on a hierarchy, with most mages in the north making up the lower level, the council of wizards in the middle, and the chapter of the gift and the art at the top

the council is made up of a small group of mages that hold influence over the brotherhood but still need to answer to the chapter, as of twn the members are yennefer of vengerberg, philippa eilhart, radcliffe, carduin, and fercart. sheala de tancarville was part of it too, but she left

the chapter has the highest influence of magic in the north (and possibly the continent). it was founded by herbert stammelford, aurora henson, ivo richert, agnes of glanville, geoffrey monk, and radmir of tor carnedd. by twn, all of them had died or left, so the chapter was made of tissaia de vries, enid an gleanna, gerhart of aelle, vilgefortz of roggeveen, and artaud terranova. narses de la roche was the grandmaster of the chapter in 1245, but wasn't that involved much after.

politics

after mages graduate, the brotherhood usually places them on the court of a king/queen as an advisor. they're supposed to help strategize, conduct research, and just heighten the magical abilities of a kingdom

do they do this? nope

most mages are meant to clean up their king's messes, but usually get fed up and rule the entire kingdom from behind the scenes to fit their own agendas

can mages have babies?

short answer: yeah! although magic can make it harder to have babies, lots of sorceresses would take extra care to make sure they were as unaffected as possible. the forced sterilization was tissaia de vries' idea, and since she trained the vast majority of sorceresses we meet, most of them can't have babies

and yes, it's irreversible. sorry yen

geralt's mum, visenna, was trained as a druid, so she was still able to have geralt while practicing magic

who are they?

we meet a Lot of mages, so let's get to know a couple, starting with the ladies!

let's start with the lovely lovely yennefer. she was trained at aretuza under tissaia de vries, who became a mother figure to her. yen was also the youngest member of the council, as of twn she's 90. yes, that's very young to have a position of that caliber, especially since yen wasn't even an official advisor to aedirn's king

we all know and love hate triss merigold. she's one of the youngest sorceresses we meet, at the first season of twn she's 40 (book canon, she's made older in the show). triss also studied at aretuza and is currently one of king foltest of temeria's court mages

sabrina glevissig. slutty sabrina (affectionate) was yennefer's classmate at aretuza and became advisor to king henselt of her native kaedwen.

fringilla vigo is supposedly yen and sabrina's classmate from aretuza, but she is actually quite a bit younger than both of them and went to the imperial academy in her home country nilfgaard. fringilla specializes in illusion magic and (in book canon) is really not evil. she's a little slutty and stupid, but so is sabrina and dandelion and about half the people we meet!

we see skelliger sorceress lytta neyd, aka coral, aka astrid lyttneyd ásgeirrfinnbjornsdottir, at the battle of sodden hill where she unfortunately dies. coral was also very fond of breaking the brotherhood's rule against article compression (magically turning a person into a jade figurine, a wholly unpleasant experience)

temerian sorceress keira metz is one of the youngest mages we meet, she's around the same age as triss, whom she serves on foltest's court alongside

i mentioned philippa eilhart as a member of the council, and i'll mention her again as the love of my life. philippa is old. like, over 300. she's also one of the only mages to master polymorphism, and spends a solid portion of her time as an owl. philippa is redanian king vizimir's official advisor, but she, along with trusted?? associate lover sigismund dijkstra, really rules the entire country with vizimir as a puppet

sheala de tancarville is yen and phil's colleague from the council, but she left because it got too realpolitik for her tastes. sheala's from creyden (same place as renfri), but very rarely served her country's interests in favour of researching magic and being a reclusive bookworm. i'm serious. her nickname is literally the recluse of kovir

tissaia de vries. easily one of the most powerful and respected mages on the continent, member of the chapter, current rectoress of aretuza, and general badass. like most scholars, she wasn't involved in politics and doesn't even have a known nationality.

francesca findabair, also known as enid an gleanna, is an elven sorceress and member of the chapter. by twn she's easily 150 and very well established, although a sufferer of chronic backstabber syndrome.

assire var anahid is one of fringilla's nilfgaardian besties, although neither are actually nilfgaardian. assire is our good friend cahir's great-aunt, a military expert, and mom to her cat merlin

onto the gents!

let's start with the worst, istredd! i for incel, s for stupid, t for testicle-less (once i find him), r for racist, e for ew, d for dead (again, once i find him), and d for dipshit. in twn he's in cahoots with equally disgusting sorcerer...

stregobor! *vomits* you remember him as the koviri sorcerer who loves tracking down and murdering young girls, many of which have been exiled from their homes and tortured. he's just a lovely guy.

vilgefortz of roggeveen is sort of a walking spoiler, so i won't go too much in depth about him, but we can know he was raised by druids and, when offered a magical education, refused. he then became a mercenary, then a spy, then a wanted man, and finally trained to become a mage. despite his unusual backstory and late start, vilgefortz was insanely talented and, at less than a century old, became a member of the most powerful group of mages on the continent.

i mentioned gerhart of aelle aka hen gedymdeithe, as the oldest mage alive. he's at least 500. and then some. he's also a member of the chapter, but this position is more of a courtesy than a meaningful addition to the brotherhood.

finishing up the chapter, we have artaud terranova. he's not important yet, but will probably be in season two. all you need to know is he's short and a little mean and trusted by vilgefortz

fercart of cidaris is the third (but only male and non-temerian) member of foltest's royal council, and fairly unimportant member of the council of wizards

carduin of lan exeter was advisor to koviri king esterad thyssen and member of the council. he was also one of radovid's advisors, which didn't go over too well as radovid's other advisor, philippa eilhart, doesn't share too well

last and sort of least, we have radcliffe of oxenfurt. he was advisor to demavend of aedirn, from whom he probably met yennefer.

[yahooin-feature]

10 Breath-taking Natural Phenomena Found in the Land Down Under

Nature has so much beauty to offer and that’s evidenced by the fact that when our country went under lockdown, the only thing filling people’s Instagram feed was the clear blue skies, the vibrant green trees and a series of animal appearances that would have been otherwise left unnoticed on any given day. Man has a deep relationship with nature and anything out of the ordinary strikes us. If a day with an AQI under 100 can fill us with such joy, can you imagine what would happen if you were to witness natural beauty in all its glory? If there’s one place on this planet that can boast for some of the best natural phenomena then it’s none other than Australia. Don’t believe us? Then continue reading:

1. Bioluminescent Plankton at Jervis Bay in NSW

I bet everyone reading this article would have come across pictures of shores with blue translucent light beaming on the surface. Well, at Jervis Bay, which is a mere 3 hours away from Sydney, this phenomenon becomes a reality. Due to a natural chemical reaction within plankton, the plankton become luminescent and emanate a blue glow. This unusual natural phenomenon, which can only be seen at night can happen at any time of the year but is more common in spring and summer months when the water is warmer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on Jan 16, 2020 at 7:17pm PST

2. Min Min Lights, Outback Australia, Northern Territory

The easiest way to convince people that you saw a UFO or some supernatural phenomenon is by taking a picture of the Min Min Lights. These unexplained light phenomena literally will stalk you. Described by witnesses as floating, fast-moving balls of colour that glow in the night sky that stalk people, leaving some feeling confused and frightened, there is debate as to whether the Min Min Lights exist, or if they are simply an Aboriginal folktale that has been passed down for Generations. If you want to find out and investigate further, the only way to do this is by heading down under to outback Australia.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bushranger 4x4 Gear (@bushranger4x4gear) on Oct 2, 2018 at 6:47pm PDT

3. Morning Glory Cloud, Burketown, Queensland

Wondering what Morning Glory clouds are? Well, think of contrails but make them big and close. Close enough to touch. And then multiply these in 2, 3, or even 4s! During September and October, the rare meteorological phenomenon referred to as the ‘Morning Glory Clouds’ roll across the Gulf and can be observed above the skies in Burketown. The cloud bank can be up to 1,000km long, 1-2km wide and can travel at speeds of up to 60km/hour. Although these clouds can be found in other parts of the world, Burketown is the only place where they appear frequently at set times of the year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #exploreTNQ (@tropicalnorthqueensland) on Sep 13, 2018 at 12:18am PDT

4. Coral Spawning, The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Once a year, on cues from the lunar cycle and the water temperature, entire colonies of coral reefs simultaneously release their tiny eggs and sperm, called gametes, into the ocean. Known as Coral spawning, this phenomenon creates an underwater blizzard with billions of colorful flakes cascading in white, yellow, red, and orange. An extremely crucial process in fertilisation, this lasts only a few nights, but travellers can take a night time coral spawning dive trip or join an overnight vessel during the coral spawning dates for another chance to view this weird and wonderful sight

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #thisisqueensland (@queensland) on Nov 28, 2019 at 3:03am PST

5. Cuttlefish Annual Aggregation, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Australia is the only place in the world where a mass of beautifully colored cuttlefish come together to migrate to the waters of the upper Spencer Gulf to breed. This annual migration, which takes place predictably every winter, is a sight to behold for every scuba enthusiast. Travelers can snorkel with the amazing giant cuttlefish at Stony Point between June and July, located on the coastline of the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park in the Eyre Peninsula.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Jul 1, 2018 at 2:15am PDT

6. Australia’s Pink Lakes, South Australia, and Western Australia

Another Insta-worthy phenomenon, Australia is home to several pink lakes. From the outback of South Australia to the coast of Western Australia, few things are as beautiful and baffling as Australia’s pink lakes. Most of these stand-alone lakes get their vibrant hues due to the high concentration of salt in them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on Apr 10, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT

7. Aurora Australis, Tasmania

Much like the Northern Lights, the Southern light illuminates the Aussie sky in colors of green, blue, red, and even pink. The Southern Lights can be viewed all year round – although most commonly during winter, May to August, and during the spring equinox in September. You can head to Bruny Island, Satellite Island, Bathurst Harbour, and Cradle Mountain for the beautiful natural light show.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Discover Tasmania (@tasmania) on Feb 26, 2020 at 9:53pm PST

8. The World’s Largest Dinosaur Footprints, Broome, Western Australia

It’s hard to imagine a world where dinosaurs roamed freely along with man. But if there’s one place where this becomes a reality it is in Broome, Western Australia. At 1.7-metres long, the fossilized dinosaur footprints here are 130 million years old and extend in patches for 80km along the coast. At the southern end of Cable Beach is Gantheaume Point, a scenic area of red sandstone cliffs where visitors can observe footprints of dinosaurs located on the flat rocks 30 meters out to sea and are only visible at low tide. This phenomenon is definitely for the bucket list.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Western Australia (@westernaustralia) on Nov 26, 2019 at 9:33pm PST

9. Horizontal Falls, Western Australia

One of the most fascinating natural phenomena on this list is Horizontal Falls, which can be found in Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago. The first fall is about 20-meters wide, while the second is about 10-meters wide. The powerful tides in the Kimberley can reach more than 10-metres and the direction of the flow reverses ensuring the water flows two different ways each day, and a unique waterfall effect. A scenic flight or a sea safari is the best way to explore the Horizontal Waterfalls.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on Oct 9, 2019 at 11:00am PDT

10. Red Crab Migration, Christmas Island

Walk the red crab carpet on Christmas Island, off the far north-west coast of Australia. The island is home to an estimated 40-50 million bright red land crabs. Each year, at the start of the wet season (November - January), a spectacular awakening occurs. Mother Nature rolls out the red carpet as hordes of crabs emerge from the island’s forests and march their way down to the ocean to breed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on Dec 16, 2019 at 2:00am PST

Head over to the Land down under and experience these incredible experiences. If you need help planning your trip to Australia, check out these super helpful resources.

This content was produced in partnership with Tourism Australia. 

[katherinewilliams221b]

I'm going to shoot some soldifying Qs at you as well, t'was my main intention to lure you on for a reblog at least 😂 Please choose anyone you feel like, Kate or Charlie or both...1 (bc K's father gives me some kinda vibes), 4 (bc BOTH grandpas are so different, and also her parents...), 5&6 (your Charlie??), 24 (!), 32 and 35. And 41 to cap it off. I'd ask every single one of them, so sorry abt it 🙏

Aaaaaaaa okay, okay, here it is! I've been out of business for a while, taking exams and such. Uni takes all my strength away. Thank you for asking💜💜💜😍 and OF COURSE I'm going to make you participate in every ask possible 😌🤷‍♀️😍

---

1. How does your character think of their father? What do they hate and love about him? What influence - literal or imagined - did the father have?

Joseph Williams is an interesting piece; he is the youngest son of Nicholas and Aurora Williams (for another conversation). He has two siblings: Evira (stop calling her Elvira or else), the oldest, and Erick, in the middle. He was raised in a typical purist family and it’s a miracle that he didn’t turn out like his father and grandfather.

The loss of Jacob shook him to the core, but his stoic demeanour never showed it. This is something that Kate demands of him, that he could show a little more emotion or at least share his opinions. The man just talks with facts.

Another thing that truly exasperates Kate is the fact that, seemingly, he doesn’t stand up to his father. What she doesn’t know, but will learn later in her life, is that her father is the only one of the three siblings that broke a lot, if not every, rule his father had. One of them: marrying a girl with mixed blood. Nicholas is a man with a plan, probably having a member of his blood in every important position that could exist. Kate’s father probably wouldn’t have chosen a Ministry career, but at the time, he thought he didn’t have much of a choice when he found out that his father arranged it all. He insisted in dragging Jacob and Kate along, both refusing fervently and, when his father started arranging their lives, he finally put an end to the situation. This made him somewhat of an outcast, no one messes with Nicholas Williams. He is a truly terrifying man. Although aware of her grandfather’s severity, Kate didn’t know he had made plans for her and that her father was opposed to the idea.

He is hard-working, tenacious and has a way with words that help him in his job (He works at Dpt. International Magical cooperation) and that Kate also admires. She knows that you must be very careful if you talk to him, for he could be manipulative if that makes him accomplish a purpose.

Probably the most interesting thing that Kate could have learnt from him is crisis management (see #35 for more info). She does not agree with his “the end justifies the means” policy that was the cause of many arguments, but she tries to be more pragmatic and keep a cool head when a new problem arises.

4. What type of discipline was your character subjected to at home? Strict? Lenient?

5. Were they overprotected as a child? Sheltered?

6. Did they feel rejection or affection as a child?

(I felt like these were together)

Kate was homeschooled before Hogwarts. Numerous tutors with the best qualifications were selected to prepare Jacob and Kate for school.

Jacob described the process as 'unnecessarily tough and strict', not very keen to rules, Jacob used to skip classes and wander around the grounds of the house.

Both siblings were extraordinarily brilliant and it was reflected in their studies, nevertheless, little Katie showed interest in learning new things, unlike her brother. Their schooling never included anything that had to do with learning magic. They were instructed in basic math, english, french (Kate doesn't remember much of it), music, biology and introduction to what muggles would call botanics. Kate was supposed to learn piano, but they had trouble finding a good teacher that was willing to go to the house. It is a bit scary.

There were strict rules that Kate had to follow; her grandparents respective studios were forbidden as well as the kitchen and the guest area and Kate never dared to go to the basement. Her room was situated on the far end of the house and although it had a decent size it lacked personality, it was just decorated with dark colours that suited the house but not her.

The remain space for living was the grounds of the place, big enough to explore at leisure and maybe find a hidden spot to spend the afternoon. Usually the siblings were allowed to disappear for hours without a word if that meant that they didn't annoy the family or the guests.

Kate remembers her only contact with magic before Hogwarts days, happening two times a week, when she was brought to Diagon Alley to play.

Kate remembers a lonely but happy childhood. Her parents lived in the house as well, petition of her father, that wanted to protect her half blood wife, Natalia. He used all the family name power to shelter her and her parents (Natalia's mother was a muggle and at the time, Voldemort killed and tortured muggles, probably half bloods and as well as blood traitors). The name of the family was never questioned because of all the influence they had in the Ministry, but the chances of a visit to her  grandparents were limited and very controlled.

She does not blame her parents for being away all the time, or her grandparents for ignoring her. She was happy just learning, playing and exploring.

24. What social groups and activities does your character attend? What role do they like to play? What role do they actually play, usually?

-At Hogwarts, Kate participated in the Hogwarts gobstones club and she was very much like her grandfather Bernard when he plays chess. She rarely lost a game and she was known for her lack of compassion when playing. She quit after Hogwarts and its unusual to see her play.

- At the same time, she was a member of the Duelling Club, where she excelled. Flitwick said to Harry Potter that she could be the best duellist of the century. The club dissolved to be re-founded again several years later, but she managed to be one of the leaders for a year. A picture of her hangs in the duelling room.

- Later in her life, she takes French and Spanish classes, the last accompanied by her mother. She is not very fluid with languages but after a while, she starts to enjoy the bonding moments with her mother.

- As a mediwizard, she attends multiple conferences and symposiums, she usually goes as a guest. Later she would participate more actively, giving talks about the importance of international techniques around the world, promoting communication, sharing perspectives and open-minded politics.

Regarding medicine, she founds a small association of healers in St Mungo’s, that teaches basic healing magic and procedures when facing an emergency situation to children, teenagers and also adults.

Kate claims she is not a leader, probably out of modesty or lack of confidence. However, she likes to take the initiative in her projects and she eventually learns how to make herself respected. She finds that, after all, she likes taking the lead.

-Kate and Charlie made an effort to go to dancing classes, to spend some quality time together. Being both very private creatures, they hated it. Not wanting to hurt each other’s feelings they didn’t mention anything about it and kept going to class. After a year they became very elegant, not only in their dancing, but in their stance as well. Needless to say, they are the focus of all stares in whichever event they attend to.

After some years, they would reveal and laugh about how they despised those classes, and how they prefered to dance alone at home. They do not regret it.

32. How does your character react to stress situations? Defensively? Aggressively? Evasively?

Kate is a well balanced combination of all three.

If one thinks about stress because of work or studies, she doesn’t fear hard work she is very assertive with her goals.

While working for the Order, she was forced to face whoever wanted to hurt her, ad although she prefers the ‘run’ option, she knows how to stand and fight if necessary. While duelling, she prefers defense spells, which give her time to know her opponent and think of a strategy according to them.

Arguing with her can be difficult and oftentimes it ends in both parts hurt. She matures considerably in that aspect and learns that some things, even if they are true, are better left unsaid.

35. Do they always rationalize errors? How do they accept disasters and failures?

Kate’s father had a lot to do with her discipline in front of failure. He feared that her grandfather’s hard education would make Kate afraid of taking the wrong direction or ever scared of making decisions Through the years he taught her how to face mistakes, work around them and accept that one can’t change the past. Easier said than done, she is only human, and from time to time she needs reassurance that she is doing the right thing. She knows that she can count on her friends to help her fix any errors and give her support when needed.

This chances the day she loses a patient for the first time, and she has to reorganize her thoughts. It was a very philosophical and exhausting day.

41. Is your character aware of who they are? Strengths? Weaknesses? Idiosyncrasies? Capable of self-irony?

She knows perfectly who she is, thanks to long talks with Charlie about everything. She is not afraid to change an opinion if she realizes she is wrong. Kate’s way of living is an state of evolutiotion; she is not only hungry for academic knowledge, she likes to discover herself and others everyday. Talking with Charlie is somewhat therapeutic and she values how he is patient enough with her to participate in those deep conversations she loves to get lost into.

She is not scared to be herself because she knows that to be loved for who you are is more precious than pretending to be someone smarter, fancier or cooler.

Bill, Tonks and Charlie like to pick on her, of course without malice, because they enjoy the friendly banter that always follows.

[wakingwriter]

What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about your subject/genre that isn’t so?

I write science fiction and fantasy, and people (who don’t read it) tend to think of it as ‘all spaceships and magic’. It isn’t! Science fiction, for example, can indeed be based on space, time travel or life on other planets; but it can also be based on imagined scientific or technological developments, major social or environmental changes, set in the real world here on Earth. My latest book, Towards White, falls into this category, imagining a world where scientists have discovered when the electrical energy in your brain goes when you die. It’s set in Iceland and I’ve been told it’s portrayed in a very realistic style. Because of this, people who don’t read science fiction have enjoyed it so much they’re going to read more science fiction from now on. I hope they do!

Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?

Towards White is a story about a girl trying to pull herself back together in extraordinary circumstances. We all fall apart sometimes, face the darkest of dark hours, question the essence of our being, then seek a way back to ‘normal’ life. I wanted to write a story about a character struggling to do that, and facing a crisis at the same time. Sometimes when it rains, it pours.

They know what’s going to happen to you… after you die.

Scientists in Iceland think they’ve figured out one of our greatest mysteries – where the electrical energy in our brains goes after we die. According to the laws of physics, one form of energy must always become another form. So the electrical energy in our brains and nervous system can’t simply disappear…

When ex-lawyer Becky Dales travels to Iceland to track down her missing brother, she doesn’t care about the groundbreaking discoveries or the positive-thinking practiced by the Icelanders – she just wants her brother back. Having stumbled on something she thinks the Icelandic government wants to be covered up, Becky must piece together the answers fast… before she becomes a victim herself.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing this book?

I’ve always appreciated the systematic beauty of the laws of physics, especially life cycles: how one thing becomes another, and another, wasting little but time. So when I read about the conservation of energy law at school, one of the fundamental laws of physics, I dwelled on it, pondered it, and extended it as far as I could. What if…what if that was the answer to one of man’s greatest mysteries: life after death. The conservation of energy law states that one form of energy must always become another form of energy—so where does the electrical energy in our brains go when we die? It can’t end, it can’t just disappear…

Over the years I played with this idea but it wasn’t until I went to Iceland in 2001 that the story that would become Towards White started to take shape. I fell in love with the country’s austere beauty and inspiration simply poured into my brain from there.

There were some delays along the way – moving to Australia, marriage, two children, a new career and finding the right publisher – but the story evolved so much it demanded to be told, and finally, it’s here!

Tell us more about your main character. What makes him or her unique?

My main character, Becky Dales, has food issues. Weight control is becoming an increasingly popular issue these days, and the methods used to stay slim aren’t always healthy. So it was no surprise to me to learn that 84.3% of young people know at least one person with an eating disorder (NEDC 2010), 15% of women will experience an eating disorder at some point during their life (Wade, 2006), and an estimated 20% of women have an undiagnosed eating disorder (NEDC, 2012b)? As humans, our relationship with food is complicated and strained, yet we rarely talk about it. I wanted to explore this by creating a character authentically representative of those struggles, both to show how something debilitating can remain hidden and to acknowledge an otherwise typically invisible and isolating experience. Help is available. Here in Australia, free confidential help is available through the National Eating Disorders Collaboration helpline on 1800 33 4673. We can start by talking.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

That readers think Becky Dales is me! Of course, I try to put a little of myself into every story, not only because it helps make characters more authentic, but because I read to connect with others, their stories and challenges, and assume others do too. So when I’m writing, I like to offer readers the opportunity to spend time in another person’s shoes, and to do that I have to search through my own closet of shoes and find the right pair to offer up (BTW I don’t actually have a closet for shoes, my shoes are bundled up on wardrobe shelves!). Once I’ve found an experience I might be able to share, I imagine what it would be like to intensify that experience and go through it in extreme conditions, and once I know what those conditions might be, I build my character. During character development, though, I also think of friends and family who resemble my character in some way and borrow bits of them to add into the mix. So there’s a bit of me in Becky Dales, there are bits from a few lawyer friends I know, and of course, Becky’s also herself because none of us have ever been in her situation in Towards White – I’m sure we wouldn’t want to be either!

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Travelling to Iceland. I love traveling. I love exploring new places, seeking out unusual stories and uncommon sights, then taking copious notes on them. I have a heap of travel notebooks, and they allow me to travel back in time to when I was last in a place, then write scenes that really show readers what it was like to be there. I visited Iceland in 2001, and when I re-read my notes it’s like being there again. Hopefully, when readers read Towards White, they’ll travel there with me too.

What role does research play in your writing?

A lot! Especially for Towards White. Once I knew I wanted to write a story based on my scientific ideas set in Iceland, I started thoroughly researching those ideas. For the scientific side of things, I went to libraries in the UK and over here in Sydney, read online and asked scientist friends, putting together a folder of research and ideas about energy. I researched all kinds of other relevant things too like gravity and electromagnetism, how colour works, magnetic field therapy, Reiki, astronomy, genes, artic phenomena, the auroras, the constitution and history of Iceland, and of course the brain and nervous system, including brain death and methods of execution. I also bought an Icelandic dictionary and got to know the language as best as I could, including famous cultural quotes and swearing. Many of these ideas have been ingrained in the story from the very first draft back in 2002, but I cut out a lot of the language as my writing technique developed because it didn’t bring anything to the story but ambiguity. Some of the research I cut too because it was too lengthy – but I still have it all somewhere!

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Be determined in spite of everything, but not everyone. Writing is a collaborative process and writers need the support of family and friends, as well as readers and editors. Sacrifice and hard work will get you far, but you don’t want to be alone at the end of it, or for your health to suffer. I’ve had to fight over the years for every precious second of writing time I’ve carved out of my days and weeks, knowing talent is nothing if you don’t put in the time too. But I’ve also put down the laptop when others needed my help or attention, or to look after my health. It’s a matter of balance, of course. Oh, and chocolate and wine, definitely chocolate and wine.

What is your next project?

I’d like to re-edit a fantasy novel I’ve been working on for a few years, following on from a Writing Inclusive Fiction course I studied earlier this year. It’s so important to write with sensitivity and respect, I want to ensure I’m doing what I can to address imbalance. I’m also working with agents in the US and England to get more of my writing to readers. Watch this space! Or rather this space over here: zenashapter.com/blog. 😉

Want to learn more about Zena Shapter?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page | Towards White

Zena Shapter, author of Towards White @zenashapter #sciencefiction #fantasy What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about your subject/genre that isn't so?

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Milky Way + Northern lights. I cannot explain how rare this phenomenon is, blue Aurora together with the Milky way above your head! All this at that 60th parallel. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in prevBlue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in prev#fujixnordicious posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Milky Way + Northern lights Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in prevBlue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in prev#fujixnordicious posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic

[rostam-z]

Blue Aurora, one of the most unusual and rare colours that you can get in aurora. As we see in the past events of this year, 2024, the blue and blue purple appear when storms are really really strong. Not confirmed in geo locations of Aurora Oval, but definitely confirmed at just above the 60th parallel, in other words, Stocholm area! Visual proof is here and in previous posts. Pure blue, Aurora mostly appear at 120 km. Also known as the second, most rarest aurora. This shot is taken 12th of August 2024. #NorthernLights #northernlightsstockholm #Norrtäljekommun #Norrtälje #SwedishLandscape #Landscape #SlowPhotography #LandscapePhotography #SlowPhotography #NorrskenSverige #Norrsken #Northern_Lights #NorrskensFoto #aurorareach #AurorOfTheDay #WorldAurora #IG_AuroraBorealis #FujixSweden #FujixNordic